Local boys make good

Ellipsis is a Boston-based jazz quartet hailing from the New England Conservatory of Music. Formerly known as Mike Sempert and Ellipsis, the group seems to have created its own signature sound by experimenting with all types of musical influences, from Latin music to reggae to the more typical jazz. Ellipsis' latest album, titled Object on a Train, attempts to capture its own unique flavor of music by incorporating elements of all sorts of music into a combination of jazz and modern freeform pieces.

The group has plenty of connections across the Boston area. Two members of the band, pianist Mike Sempert and saxophonist Daniel Blake, are enrolled in the Conservatory's double-degree program with Tufts University. Along with bassist Noah Jarrett, the group is joined for this album by Brent Raskind on drums and proceeds to experiment with all types of different genres, from jazz and beyond. Drawing its inspiration from across the musical spectrum, Ellipsis comes back to the basics again and again with its simple melodies and underlying harmonies.

The album opens with "Spanda," a short number that sounds like it came right out of the space age and does little more than establish a laidback, freeform atmosphere for the rest of the album. It transitions quickly into "A New Day is Vibrating," the first real piece of the collection. Featuring Sempert on the electric piano and Blake on saxophone, "A New Day" showcases Ellipsis's signature relaxing sound. With the bass and drumset creating an easy harmonious atmosphere, Sempert and Blake are free to improvise with the melody and enhance it through their own interpretations over the course of the number.

The opening of "Mushmouth," the third song on the album, returns to the more modern-feeling freeform before moving into the actual piece. Again, the melody is established early on, this time by saxophone and bass, and then elaborated upon for the rest of the piece with improvisation. The band's musical talent is more than evident here as its ability to expand upon the simplest of themes creates an energy that carries the piece through to its end.

A couple of short freeform interludes bring the listener to "Melting the Robots," a piece that starts out with Ellipsis's signature relaxed feel, this time augmented by a futuristic sounding piano line that develops into a more lively number. Once again, the band manages to capture the energy that only good improv can create as the song transitions almost directly into "The Sweet," another longer number that opens with a salsa flavor. This piece gives Blake an opportunity to truly shine on saxophone and demonstrates the band's diverse musical influences.

The second half of the album features more freeform tracks with a smattering of more traditional jazz pieces. Notable among them are "Feeling Clean," a shorter number with a lively melody, and "Travels of a Flying Fox Carp," the collection's final piece that essentially sums up the journey by both returning to the basics and incorporating elements of freestyle jazz before it fades away one last time.

Overall, Object on a Train is a unique musical experience. While the freeform episodes can be distracting at first, especially for someone who doesn't typically listen to such modern music, they build along with the CD, eventually coalescing to the point where they become something to which the listener can look forward. While this sort of experimentation rarely pays off in its final form, Ellipsis carries it through to great success, essentially getting better as they go along. The collection is great for fans of jazz and easy listening music and offers a unique take on the usual jazz experience.